I’m not much of a gardener; my wife Betty, is definitely the one with the  'green thumb’. She can make almost make anything grow; in pots, in the garden, raised beds; she’s amazing. She waters and fertilizes them, plays music for them, knows when to prune them; it’s an amazing gift that God has given her. She has even asked God to let her work in His Heavenly garden, once we get there. I’ve discovered Betty’s secret; she is committed to the details; devoting her time and careful attention, to ensure that the trees, plants and flowers on our property will continue to thrive. It doesn’t seem to be work to her; it’s her passion. And as God works His magic through her efforts, His gardens come alive.

Likewise, when God’s Holy Spirit takes up residency in our hearts, a Believer will never be the same. Ephesians 1: 13 says… ‘when we heard the message of truth and the gospel of our salvation, we believed; we were marked for life in Christ’. So, if I believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I should do all that I can to ensure that I am doing my best to please God and Christ.

Personal example: I can tell Betty that I love her every day of our lives, but if I do not display the evidence that I love her, my words become hollow and incomplete. Having faith in God and Christ is a great start, but there is much more that we can experience when we display our love for them. We must follow through and do The good works that He has assigned to us. And faith doesn’t have to be blind, as we can recognize strong evidence of His presence. All we need to do is look around us at the His Creation and the beauty that we see in all directions.

When someone proclaims Jesus as Lord and Savior and lives a life that produces the fruits of the Spirit, that’s a sure indicator of their faith. This doesn’t mean that their lives will be perfect… which cannot happen in this life. Paul makes it clear in Ephesians 2: 8-9, ‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith in Christ; not from anything we could do; it is a gift from God; so that we cannot boast’. When we place our faith in the Lord, we have an opportunity to follow His agenda, not ours. We are blessed by Him, as we make decisions that please Him. 2 Timothy 3: 16, says…‘All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work’. When we seek to serve the Lord, work is always present and builds upon our faith; it cannot be avoided.

Hebrews 4: 12 tells us that the Word-of-God is living and active; it changes us when we study it and take it to heart. As we continue to serve The Lord, the Holy Spirit is at work within us. As we continue to walk that narrow path that leads to the small gate, we will continue to produce the desired results that Christ has ordained for us. James 2: 19; says ‘that even the demons believe there is only One True God’. They know He is real and would never deny who He is and the complete power He has over them and everything in the Universe.